Midway City Council voted Monday to purchase 900 new water meters to replace old, inaccurate or obsolete models in use now. Correct metering is expected to increase the city’s water revenue.
Mayor Don Emmons estimated the accurate metering could bring a 10 percent increase in the water the city bills, “so about $50,000 would be brought in by the new meters.”
Midway will pay the $299,554 cost of the Badger meters, including installation, in annual installments. Installation should start within 30 days and be completed in 90 days. There is a 10-year warranty on the high-tech meters that will be read remotely.
Monday’s session attracted an unusual number of spectators, including Sheriff Don Martin and Clerk of Courts Barry Wilkes, who attended the formal swearing-in of Midway’s new city judge, John Harvey. City court clerk Donna Davis was also sworn in and a short reception was hosted.
Robert Sales, a managing partner of the Dolphin Island development appeared before the council because of a complaint the project had erected illegal signs. After explaining the benefits Dolphin Island had brought to the area, Sales noted he was not aware of the sign regulations.
“We just want to find places for our signs,” he said.
He noted many people looking for Dolphin Island turn left, toward the coast, after exiting I-95, because the development offers waterfront lots. To reach Dolphin Island they must turn right, toward Isle of Wight.
Debra Attical of the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission said only one permitted off-premise sign is allowed every 800 feet in the affected area. Waffle House, for example, follows different rules for signs at the location of the business. Signs directing people to other locations must follow the off-premise rules.
“If we’re in violation, I’m going to guess there’s another 100 to 200 violators,” Sales said.
Emmons responded, “We do have a lot of signs that are not permitted,” and the council appeared willing to look for a solution.
Attical suggested Sales apply for a sign permit through the LCPC, thus following established procedures that will bring the matter back before the council later.
That was agreed to, with Mayor Pro Tempore Clemontine Washington saying, “We need to check all the other signs, not just pick on one person. It is not fair to do that.”
A tent sale by Budget Car Sales planned for a Butler Avenue location near the car wash did not fare as well. Lacking LCPC approval, Budget was told to cancel the sale dates already set and return with appropriate permits in hand.
The council named Matt Norsworthy to Midway’s seat on the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center’s historical advisory council.
Norsworthy is already a member of the county commission’s cultural and historical advisory panel.
Mayor Don Emmons estimated the accurate metering could bring a 10 percent increase in the water the city bills, “so about $50,000 would be brought in by the new meters.”
Midway will pay the $299,554 cost of the Badger meters, including installation, in annual installments. Installation should start within 30 days and be completed in 90 days. There is a 10-year warranty on the high-tech meters that will be read remotely.
Monday’s session attracted an unusual number of spectators, including Sheriff Don Martin and Clerk of Courts Barry Wilkes, who attended the formal swearing-in of Midway’s new city judge, John Harvey. City court clerk Donna Davis was also sworn in and a short reception was hosted.
Robert Sales, a managing partner of the Dolphin Island development appeared before the council because of a complaint the project had erected illegal signs. After explaining the benefits Dolphin Island had brought to the area, Sales noted he was not aware of the sign regulations.
“We just want to find places for our signs,” he said.
He noted many people looking for Dolphin Island turn left, toward the coast, after exiting I-95, because the development offers waterfront lots. To reach Dolphin Island they must turn right, toward Isle of Wight.
Debra Attical of the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission said only one permitted off-premise sign is allowed every 800 feet in the affected area. Waffle House, for example, follows different rules for signs at the location of the business. Signs directing people to other locations must follow the off-premise rules.
“If we’re in violation, I’m going to guess there’s another 100 to 200 violators,” Sales said.
Emmons responded, “We do have a lot of signs that are not permitted,” and the council appeared willing to look for a solution.
Attical suggested Sales apply for a sign permit through the LCPC, thus following established procedures that will bring the matter back before the council later.
That was agreed to, with Mayor Pro Tempore Clemontine Washington saying, “We need to check all the other signs, not just pick on one person. It is not fair to do that.”
A tent sale by Budget Car Sales planned for a Butler Avenue location near the car wash did not fare as well. Lacking LCPC approval, Budget was told to cancel the sale dates already set and return with appropriate permits in hand.
The council named Matt Norsworthy to Midway’s seat on the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center’s historical advisory council.
Norsworthy is already a member of the county commission’s cultural and historical advisory panel.